It is a well-known fact among the San Quentin News staff that former Warden Clinton T. Duffy wanted inmates to voice their opinions about whatever subjects they felt comfortable addressing. Duffy’s creation, San Quentin News, was the beginning of inmate journalism at San Quentin and an opportunity given at the time to increase public safety and strive for social justice. It is a well-known fact among the San Quentin News staff that former Warden Clinton T. Duffy wanted inmates to voice their opinions about whatever subjects they felt … [Read more...] about San Quentin News’ historical journey
criminal justice reform
Texas warden demoted after instituting quotas
A Texas warden was demoted and transferred following the discovery of a disciplinary quota scheme used in the Ramsey Unit of the Texas prison system, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice terminated more than 500 disciplinary cases after an investigation revealed that four state facilities implemented a disciplinary quota in which officers were required to write up a certain number of inmates or potentially face punishment themselves. The discovery of these quotas has led to a statewide audit and … [Read more...] about Texas warden demoted after instituting quotas
Unite the People ballot initiative
In 2017, Unite the People, formerly known as We the People Org, began the process of writing a ballot initiative with a goal of releasing the nearly 3,000 Californians locked up for nonviolent third strikes under our State’s mandatory sentencing law. Although we lacked the time or financial resources to move our initiative to the ballot in time for the November 2018 elections, we started a powerful grass roots movement of dedicated volunteers and family members with loved ones who have been unjustly incarcerated. Our immediate objectives now … [Read more...] about Unite the People ballot initiative
Criminal justice advocates seeking bail system reform
Criminal justice advocates are seeking to reform the California bail system reports online journalist Steven Greenhaut. Opponents say the system forces poor people to plea bargain their cases to avoid spending months in jail and a slow judicial process but allows wealthy defendants to be free pending trial. Greenhaut reported last November in reason.com that bills will be introduced in the next California Legislature session to reform the bail system. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” … [Read more...] about Criminal justice advocates seeking bail system reform
California Top Officials’ Support Ballot Measures
California’s top officials revealed their support for November ballot measures, the Sacramento Bee reported. Governor Jerry Brown approves of Proposition 57, which, among other things changes, parole rules for some nonviolent offenders and would help to alleviate overcrowding and “ensure that any release of rehabilitated inmates is consistent with public safety,” the Bee reported. Other top officials such as Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Controller Betty Yee and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones also show signs of supporting Proposition 57, … [Read more...] about California Top Officials’ Support Ballot Measures
New Tool to Analyzing Criminal Justice Policy
Incarceration rates are not the entire story of the criminal justice system. For reformers seeking to rationalize our criminal justice policies, the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) has created a significant new tool for analyzing the complicated issue of developing proposals for reform. PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” issued on June 1, is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/50statepie.html The scope of correction … [Read more...] about New Tool to Analyzing Criminal Justice Policy
Proposition 47 Being Blamed for Rise in Urban Crime
A number of sources have responded to Proposition 47 critics’ claims that reducing certain non-violent, non-serious offenses from felonies to misdemeanors is to blame for California’s 2015 increase in urban crime, The Washington Post reported. Since it passed, critics of the initiative have abundantly tried to blame Proposition 47 for a rise in crime. However, former San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne told the Sacramento Bee, “There’s no data proving such a link.” Two professors of criminology, law and society in the School of … [Read more...] about Proposition 47 Being Blamed for Rise in Urban Crime